To study the effect of hyperbaric oxygen therapy in chronic diabetic foot lesions, a prospective controlled study was undertaken. Thirty diabetics with chronic foot lesions were randomised to study group (conventional management and 4 sessions of hyperbaric oxygen therapy) and control group (conventional management). The patients were assessed for average hospital stay, control of infection and wound healing. The control of infection spread was quicker. Positive cultures decreased from initial 19 to 3 in study group as against from 16 to 12 in the control group. (p < 0.05). This difference was most pronounced for Escherichia coli. Also, the need for major amputation was significantly less in the study group (n = 2) as against the control group (n = 7) (p < 0.05). The average hospital stay was not affected. We conclude that hyperbaric oxygen therapy can be safely used and is beneficial as an adjuvant therapy in chronic diabetic foot lesions.

A major postpartum haemorrhage occurred in a patient with a previous history of female circumcision. Following assisted vaginal delivery 6 litre blood loss occurred as a result of tears to the vagina and perineum. The tears were sutured, followed by insertion of vaginal packs. Replacement fluid therapy was given. To reduce the incidence of tears and accompanying haemorrhage, it is advisable to perform two episiotomies viz. anterior and midline posterior or mediolateral.

Role of ultrasonography in early pregnancy complications.LJ Iyer, M BhattacharyaJuly-September 1992, 38(3):115-6PMID:0001303409

Two hundred patients in the first trimester of pregnancy presenting with complications were evaluated both clinically and by ultrasonography. The ultrasonographic interpretations were classified as either confirmatory, diagnostic or misleading based on their correlation with the clinical diagnosis. It was observed that in 51% cases sonography was confirmatory, in 41% diagnostic and in 8% misleading. Used judiciously, ultrasonography provides a reliable aid in management of early pregnancy complications.

MURCS association (Mullerian hypoplasia/aplasia, renal agenesis and cervicothoracic somite dysplasia) is emerging as the second most frequent cause of primary amenorrhoea after Turner syndrome. Seven cases have been described and analysed. All cases had absence of uterus and tubes 85% had cervical spine abnormalities such as vertebral fusion, hypoplasia of vertebrae or butterfly vertebrae and short stature and 28% had renal agenesis or ectopy. The latter finding is in contrast to the reports in world literature where the frequency of renal agenesis is higher. There was no familial incidence in these seven cases lending credence to the belief that the association is essentially sporadic.

Experience with the pectoralis major myocutaneous flap for head and neck reconstruction in a general surgical unit.S Nagral, M Sankhe, CV PatelJuly-September 1992, 38(3):119-23PMID:0001303411

The pectoralis major myocutaneous (PMMC) flap or its modification was used in 19 cases after resectional surgery for malignancy of the oral cavity with minimal morbidity and no mortality. The resection as well as reconstruction was done by the same team consisting only of general surgeons. The final functional and cosmetic results were satisfactory. The pectoralis major myocutaneous flap is a hardy flap and can be performed with relative ease even by those not specialised in plastic surgery. This makes it an important tool for a general surgeon practicing in a country like India with its high incidence of head and neck malignancy.

A 5 1/2 month old female child presented with cyanosis and recurrent respiratory infection. Asymmetric facies was noticed on crying. On investigation an ostium secundum atrial septal defect with right partial anomalous pulmonary venous connection and severe pulmonary hypertension was detected. The association of asymmetric crying facies with congenital cardiac anomalies, known as cardiofacial syndrome, is presented here to highlight the use of this clinical sign as a marker to congenital anomalies.

The effect of colloidal bismuth subcitrate (De-Nol) on symptoms, Helicobacter pylori status and histological features was studied in 35 patients with non-ulcer dyspepsia. Pain (34 cases) and gas bloat (18) were the predominant symptoms. H pylori was present in 26 (74.3%) patients. Gastritis and duodenitis were present in 29 of 32 and 22 of 31 cases respectively in whom biopsies were available. Relief in symptoms after treatment was seen in 29 (82.8%) cases. Improvement in gastritis and duodenitis was noted in 60.8% and 58.8% respectively; over 70% of H pylori positive patients cleared the organism. These changes did not correlate with the relief in symptoms. We conclude that colloidal bismuth subcitrate is effective in the short term treatment of non-ulcer dyspepsia. It also clears H pylori infection and results in improvement of histological features.

Melanocytoma of the optic disc is a benign lesion. We report here a patient with melanocytoma who presented with gradual diminution of vision. On examination the left eye fundus showed a mass uniformly dark black in colour, on the optic disc occupying the superotemporal quadrant. The mass completely obscured the fluorescence on fluorescein angiography and was thus differentiated from malignant melanoma.

Six cases of congenital leukemia were encountered in pediatric autopsies carried out over a period of 7 years. The postmortem findings of these cases were analysed and presented along with antemortem peripheral and bone marrow smear. All the cases were diagnosed as acute myeloid leukemia. Gross changes were observed in lungs, liver, spleen and kidneys. Histological abnormalities were detected in these organs as well as the heart, pancreas and intestine. Lymph node follicles were well preserved in all. The thymus showed a normal lobular pattern with interstitial infiltrate. Bone marrow showed myeloid blast cells with depletion of the erythroid and megakaryocytic cells.

The effect of inhalation of ipratropium bromide was evaluated in 20 patients with bronchial asthma. It was observed that there was no significant improvement in the forced vital capacity and the forced expired volume in one second, while there was significant improvement in the peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR) measured at 9 pm, after inhalation of 2 puffs of ipratropium bromide aerosol (0.02mg/puff) three to four times a day for 2 weeks. Since PEFR is a measure of large airway function and cholinergic mechanisms are primarily involved for airflow obstruction at large airways, improvement in PEFR by ipratropium bromide highlights its role as a useful bronchodilator in patients in whom vagal reflexes are responsible for the provocation of bronchoconstriction.

A woman with history of bifrontal headache, vomiting and loss of vision was diagnosed as a case of pseudotumor cerebri based on clinical and MRI findings. Bilateral abducens and facial nerve palsies were detected. Pseudotumor cerebri in this patient was not associated with any other illness or related to drug therapy. Treatment was given to lower the raised intracranial pressure to which the patient responded.

We present here our experience of laser for the management of stenosed oropharyngeal scleroma. The diagnosis of scleroma was made 14 years ago and the patient underwent repeated procedures like dilatation, diathermy excision of adhesions and cryosurgery during this period. He attended our out-patient department with complaints of dysphagia and difficulty in breathing, progressing to stridor. On examination, severe oropharyngeal stenosis due to cicatrization extending between the base of the tongue and the post-pharyngeal wall was seen. Using CO2 laser, cicatrix was released by making radial cuts and the oropharyngeal opening was widened. No tracheostomy was needed; no blood loss occurred and the patient was discharged on the next day.

Two cases of spontaneous rupture of malarial spleen are reported here. One of them was a male who was on chloroquine for an acute attack of malaria. While on therapy, he complained of pain in left hypochondrium followed by palpitations. The other patient was a female who was admitted for continuous dull aching pain and fever. In both the patients, exploratory laparotomy revealed an enlarged spleen with tear. Splenectomy was performed. Histopathological examination revealed dilated congested sinusoid with follicular atrophy, and RBCs with malarial parasites. The post-operative course was smooth in both patients.

Isolated posterior dislocation of the radial head was detected on X-ray in a patient following a vehicular accident. Such a dislocation without an associated fracture is extremely rare in adults. Immobilization of the elbow in full pronation and 90 degrees flexion for 4 weeks normalized the position of the head of the radius.

The rarity of adrenocortical carcinoma prompted us to report a case who came with a history of swelling in the left flank associated with pain, weakness and loss of appetite. Ultrasonography revealed a left retroperitoneal mass which was removed by radical surgery along with the left kidney and spleen. On histopathological examination, a diagnosis of adrenocortical carcinoma was made. (Hough criteria score 2.97). The cells of the tumor were arranged in closely packed columns and cords supported by fibrovascular stroma. There was no evidence of metastasis.

A case of gastric leiomyoblastoma in a 37 year old male is presented. The patient presented with 3 episodes of melaena requiring blood transfusion on one occasion. There was no associated haematemesis, abdominal pain, obstruction or a palpable lump. The tumor was sessile and completely intraluminal with superficial ulceration displaying distinctive histologic features. Seven years after partial gastrectomy the patient has remained asymptomatic.

A prospective study of 20 patients who underwent elective surgery, is presented reporting the effect of surgical trauma on circulating thyroid hormone levels. Although no increase in the serum T4 levels was observed following surgery, serum T3 values were found to decrease and serum rT3 values were found to increase in the post-operative period, representing activation of an alternate pathway in the peripheral conversion of T4 to T3. Since trauma induces a hypermetabolic state due to hypersecretion of cortisol, alterations in thyroid hormone levels were concluded to represent an appropriate response in trauma to counter the effects of trauma-induced cortisol hypersecretion.